Mizzima

Inntakaw People’s Defence Force (PDF) earlier this month began producing drones to use in attacks against the junta, according to U Aung Naing Thu, the deputy commander of Inntakaw PDF in Bago.

He said that producing the drones had taken longer than expected because they had experienced difficulties in acquiring all the parts needed to build the drones.

“It took us over a year to produce drones and we encountered many challenges. We failed numerous times, but we never gave up. The other challenges are technological. To produce drones we must learn the relevant technologies as we go along. Of course, purchasing the materials to build a drone presents financial challenges,” he noted.

Though Inntakaw PDF can now successfully manufacture drones, it still needs to arm them and get ammunition before it can use them in combat. 

To raise money for drone weapons and ammunition Inntakaw PDF is going to hold an online 45-day raffle called the Ammunition and Drones Campaign, from 15 July to 29 August.

U Aung Naing Thu said: “We require weapons and ammunition to operate the drones and we are facing difficulties in buying them, that is why we organised the [fundraising] campaign].

The fundraising campaign will sell 1,500 raffle tickets for 10,000 kyats each. Prizes include: jade plaques, Aung San Suu Kyi portraits, Salai Tin Maung Oo portraits, sculptures, laptops, phones, guitars, earphones, and Thai lottery tickets.

Currently, the homemade drones will only be used by Inntakaw PDF. They have also produced their own firearms which are currently being used by Inntakaw PDF and other local ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) and defence forces.